A very special online dramatic reading of T. S. Eliot’s masterpiece

A very special online dramatic reading of T. S. Eliot’s masterpiece

On the evening of Friday, May 14 the Pawling Library presented a very special online dramatic reading of T. S. Eliot’s masterpiece, The Waste Land.  In honor of our library’s centennial, Eliot’s poem was brought to life in a brilliant performance by theater legend, actor, director Roger Hendricks Simon and actress, author Marian Grudko. During the hour-long performance Mr. Simon and Ms. Grudko seamlessly transformed from one character to another. When the final words of the poem were spoken by Mr. Simon there was a moment of silence that was then broken by applause.
Following the presentation, the performers were praised throughout a 30-minute interactive discussion. One audience member said, “The music of both of you together, your voices, really made the music of it lovely.” “We were both very aware this is a piece of music in five parts, like a symphony,” said Mr. Simon. “And the changes of pace I thought were very important. I was interested in how each part was a movement in a symphony, how it begins, how it goes to the next movement, and how it ends.” The poem is rather complex, and was compared by one person to listening to an opera for the first time, not understanding the language, but being attracted to the beauty of the music and the images. “Yes, the images were very vivid and beautiful,” said another audience participant. “The words really painted the life of it.” Several people mentioned how the two performers complimented each other so well. “Your reading was beautiful,” said one person. “Thank you so much. It was absolutely fascinating, just wonderful.” Indeed, it was; a theatrical experience that many were privileged to behold. 
Roger Hendricks Simon is a founding member of the Yale Repertory Company, who went on to direct and act for Joe Papp’s New York Shakespeare Festival. He has directed international premieres by Tennessee Williams, Sam Shepard, David Hare, Terrence McNally, Lanford Wilson, and William Saroyan, to name but a few of his numerous accomplishments. Roger is also the artistic director for The Simon Studio in New York City. Marian Grudko is the author of Lucinda Snowdrop and co-author of Claudine: A Fairy Tale for Exceptional Grownups, with T.A. Young. She is also a composer, storyteller and actress.  Her work can be seen on her YouTube channel and listened to at soundcloud.com.  Roger Hendricks Simon and Marian Grudko will be appearing independently as well as uniting once again for more special programs that celebrate the Pawling Library’s 100-year anniversary. 

Author: Harlem Valley News